Nagini Siddavaram
Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Enzymes. 2014;36:131-47. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-802215-3.00007-0.
Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is one of the most versatile medicinal plants, widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent. Neem is a rich source of limonoids that are endowed with potent medicinal properties predominantly antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Azadirachtin, gedunin, and nimbolide are more extensively investigated relative to other neem limonoids. Accumulating evidence indicates that the anticancer effects of neem limonoids are mediated through the inhibition of hallmark capabilities of cancer such as cell proliferation, apoptosis evasion, inflammation, invasion, and angiogenesis. The neem limonoids have been demonstrated to target oncogenic signaling kinases and transcription factors chiefly, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Neem limonoids that target multiple pathways that are aberrant in cancer are ideal candidates for cancer chemoprevention and therapy.
印楝（Azadirachta indica A. Juss）是用途最为广泛的药用植物之一，广泛分布于印度次大陆。印楝是柠檬苦素的丰富来源，这些柠檬苦素具有强大的药用特性，主要是抗氧化、抗炎和抗癌活性。相对于其他印楝柠檬苦素，印楝素、格杜宁和印楝内酯受到了更广泛的研究。越来越多的证据表明，印楝柠檬苦素的抗癌作用是通过抑制癌症的标志性能力来介导的，如细胞增殖、逃避凋亡、炎症、侵袭和血管生成。已证明印楝柠檬苦素主要靶向致癌信号激酶和转录因子，即NF-κB、Wnt/β-连环蛋白、PI3K/Akt、MAPK和JAK/STAT信号通路。靶向癌症中多个异常通路的印楝柠檬苦素是癌症化学预防和治疗的理想候选药物。
